This course provides an opportunity for prospective candidates to investigate the influence that contemporary social issues exert on systems of formal education. In particular, prospective candidates will examine change processes as they occur in education and acquire the basic skills needed to serve as world changers in the lives of individual students, the education profession, and society at large. They will examine the ways in which current issues and agendas for change require a stable, defensible set of core values. Based on these investigations, prospective candidates will initiate work, which will enable the prospective candidates to begin planning and preparing a personal/professional mission statement and the Applied Masters Portfolio.

This course will provide the candidate with supervised practical application of Teacher as World Changer research to practice authentic learning experiences at the classroom and building level. Candidates will demonstrate and exhibit curriculum and instruction skills leading to greater success for the diverse needs of learners. Authentic performance based assessment performances will be observed, assessed, and documented in the Applied Masters Portfolio through the program. Candidates are expected to utilize the acquired knowledge for school improvement as a teacher leader.

This course will examine the use of computer technology for instructional and classroom management purposes. Prospective candidates will become acquainted with hardware and courseware through ?hands on? experience with laptop computers (IBM compatible). Emphasis is placed on the use of available equipment and upon the evaluation and integration of instructional software within the standard classroom. The delivery support and classroom use of technology are examined. Special attention is given to the curricular integration of those technologies. Prospective candidates are exposed to and trained in the use of computer applications. Participants will evaluate their own use and their school district?s use of technology. They will examine ways they might serve as change agents by moving the use of technology forward in their schools.

This course is an introduction to educational research strategies with an emphasis on the practical application of research theories and principles. In this course, candidates develop an Action Research Proposal. They then implement the entire action plan cycle in their specific educational context. Candidates are expected to share the results of their research with colleagues in their particular building or school district providing teacher leadership opportunities for the candidate.

This course is intended to provide candidates with an overall conceptual understanding of multiple perspectives on diversity in today's educational settings. Additionally, candidates are expected to take that understanding and apply it to their classroom settings in ways that provide more inclusive techniques for students placed in their charge. A broader understanding of the community in which the candidates teach is also an important facet of this course.

This course focuses on the major theories, strategies, and applications of standards-driven learning environments. Participants in this course will utilize self-assessment tools and reflective practices in addition to reviewing current literature and educational research studies prior to developing a personal growth plan based around content and developmental standards for professional educators. Emphasis will be placed on the nature of the educational change process in a problem-based learning environment from a Christian worldview.

This course will enable master teachers to give leadership to the process of curriculum development in schools, kindergarten through high school level. Topics include the theoretical foundations, professional literature and language of curriculum, models for curriculum development, curricular processes, and the role of personnel, governments, and agencies in those processes. In this first of four core courses, special emphasis is given to four roles of the teacher who functions as a change agent. The course is designed to assist teachers in translating theory into practice through development of a Showcase Teaching Unit that will synthesize their learning. Activities will be consistent with the Teacher as World Changer conceptual framework and its corresponding five outcomes.

This course will explore current practices and research on effective formative and summative assessments for P-12 classrooms. It is designed to help the teacher leader explore the construction, selection and use of criterion-referenced, norm-referenced, and alternative assessment methods based upon course objectives which align with state and national standards. Emphasis is placed on measuring and recording P-12 student learning and making adjustments to instruction based on assessment data. Not open to students with credit in EDUE-553 or EDU-539.

This course explores a variety of accepted theories of instructional design as identified by key writers and researchers in this field. Several teaching models common to these theories are studied and practiced. Candidates will select, use, and evaluate their own use of these models in authentic teaching situations. Not open to students with credit in EDUE-551.

This course is a continuance of the two hour Research class offered earlier in the program (EDU-556A)

A continuation of EDU-559A.

This course provides the student teachers with supervised practical application of program knowledge, skills, and dispositions and authentic assessment of student teachers' growth in their program's conceptual framework. Not open to students with credit in EDL-557.

A continuation of EDU-559A and EDU-559B.

Candidates will have the opportunity to collaborate with others from other cohorts that have similar content areas, grade levels, and teaching areas as well as with those from various content areas, levels, and teaching assignment areas. Seminars will include discussion on current topics based on recent news, recent research and/or speakers. Time will also be allotted to collaborate on portfolio exhibits. The candidates will: 1.Participate in discussion and presentations from experts regarding recent topics in education. 2.Collaborate with others in their content area, grade level and teaching assignment area. 3.Interact with candidates from different content areas, grade levels and teaching assignment areas. Prerequisite: EDU-559A.